Why are thin filter cloths or woven metal screens used for slurries with high solids content?

Thin filter media, such as filter cloths or woven metal screens, are preferred for slurries with high solids content because thick filter beds—such as sand or coke beds—would fill up too rapidly to be practical for such applications.1

When processing slurries with high concentrations of suspended solids, a thin medium allows for the efficient accumulation of a filter cake on the surface of the cloth or screen. In industrial settings, this is often managed using pressure filters or vacuum filters, which provide the necessary driving force to maintain high filtration rates. For instance, the rotary-drum vacuum filter is frequently employed for the continuous filtration of large quantities of high-solids slurries, as it allows for the continuous deposition, washing, and mechanical removal of the filter cake.21